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Tackle & Guns show relocates in bid to halt ‘decline’

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Relocating to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena failed to reignite the show in 2016.

A UK trade tackle show has had to rethink its future following what it admits is several years of decline.

In a bid to ‘refresh’ the event, the organiser of the Tackle & Guns Trade Show has moved from its venue for the last 16 years to the Ricoh Arena, home to top Midlands football club, Coventry City. New dates have also been announced with it moving from October to September 11th and 12th.

The changes, which also include the introduction of seminars for retailers, were announced in the Tackle & Guns trade magazine. Sean O’Driscoll, Managing Director of show owner DHP, told its readers: “The last few years have seen a decline in exhibitor and visitor numbers and anyone who knows me well will understand that is not something I am comfortable with.

“From day one the whole ethos behind the T&G Show was to put on an event that services the trades. It was really as simple as that – put retailers in front of suppliers. That is still the thinking behind it.

“Although we have not put up stand prices for a number of years, declining attendance meant we were offering less value for money for exhibitors – again something that doesn’t please me.”

O’Driscoll added that the move to the Ricoh Arena will come with cost savings that will be passed onto exhibitors through reduced prices.

“We still get more than 500 individual shops visiting over the two days, but that number has fallen from a high of more than 730 retailers a few years ago.”